Airplane take-off



March 12, 1929. W.-E. GALE AIRPLANE TAKE-OFF Filed Jan. 13, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1 March 12, 1929. w. E. GALE AIRPLANE TAKE-OFF- 2Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 3, 1928 INVENTOR.

'A'ITORNEY i Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES PiTE N-T OFFICE.

WILLIA E GALE, or names, TEXAS.-

AIRPLANE mans on.

This invention relates to aeronauticsand more particularly to anautomatic take off device or catapult for airplanes, the princiipalobject being to provide anapparat us 0 the character specified to enablean aviator to take off where no straightaway of sufficient length isconvenient, as, for ex ample, on board ship.-

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a centraltower and a revolving superstructure capable of constraining one or moreships to move in a circular path until such time as the said ships haveattained suflicient [momentum to enable them to be released in mid-air,whereupon they may assume a straight course solely under their ownpropelling power.

, Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of arelease, which may either be actuated by the occupantof the plane, whenthe plane has cleared the ground sufficient to enable it to be released,or by a ground attendant uponsignal from the flyer.

Still, another object of the invention resides in the provision of 'anovel releasing. means, adapted, when in operation, to hold the plane inan equi-balanced position in accordance with the required banking of theplane as the latter follows-the circular coarse Figure 2 is ,afragmentary detailview of the rotating housin at the top of the tower.Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a plane equipped to co-operatewith the invention.

Figure 4 is a detail view of'a formof releasing means embodying theinvention, and Figure 5 is a detail view of a form of lever and push rodfor actuating said releasing means.

In proceeding further, it may be stated that a considerable-number ofmodifications as to details in the construction of the invention may beresorted to from time to time to improve upon the efliciency of thesame, it being intended herein to simply set forth Figure 1 representsan elevational view of i Application. filed January 13,1928. sea-t1 no.246,634.. I

the broad example of starting a plane in a restricted area, constrainingthe same to move in a, circular path, and holding the plane until thelatter attains cruising speed.

In the drawings 1 designates a central tower which must of necessity beof considerable height in order that the plane,-desighated by thecharacter 2, in gaining speed, F

may swing outward sufiicient distance to rise to a safe level above theground. The tower is constructed of riveted structural steel so as topossess the -necessary strength in sustaining the weight of one or moreplanesof average weight and their fuel load.

'Rotatably mounted upon the tower 1 is a superstructure 3 in the form'oflateral beams constructed also of structural steel.

In order to absorb-excess friction, a cone shape d housing 4 is providednear the top of thetower to which the" structure 3 is afiixed in themanner shown in Figure 1.

This housing, as apparent in Figure 2, has an'annular recess 5 1nWlllCll reposes the anti? friction'balls 6, intermediate theshoulderformed on the top of the towerand a plate 7 affixed to thehousing 4 Integral with the housing'is a cylindrical element 8 providedwith eyes 9 to which are. connected cables 10, the latter extendingbetween pulleys 11- and 12, the latter being a restraining pulley,"nearthe outer ends of'the beams 3. To the ends of cables 10 is connected theapparent later. v I

- Due; to the enormous weight of; the superstructure. 3, provisions aremade'by which planes 2, the manner of connecting to become it mayfirst-'be'started to revolving slowly,.,: since it'would be a diflicultmatter to initi-"l ally start the same by the plane itself. An

electric motor 13 is provided, revolving, throughgears (not shown) ingear box 14, the vertical shaft 15, shown in Figure 2. Rotating power isthus transmitted'to lateral shaft 16 throughbeveled gears '17, in'turnrOt-ating PillionS 18 t ends of the shaft 16, the latter enmeshing crowngear 19 on the undersidelof the housing 4. Hence, the housing isrotated. 1

With reference now to the means for holding and releasing the planes,reference is made to Figures 3 to 5'- inclusive. In order to besuccessfully operated by the invention, a plane is required to havesecurely connected thereto, with proper re-inforcement, rings 20,to'which short, but very strong and durable pieces of cable 21 areconnected.

" a sleeve towhich one of the rings 24 is.

affixed. ,Carried upon the extreme outer endsv of the bars'23 are hooks26, engaging operatively into the rings 22 carried bythe short opposingthe sleeve 25 have connected to. theirouter ends a smaller cable 28,held by loops 29 relative to the larger plane sus- These pieces ofcable, preferably of "steelsections of cable 2l forming permanentconnections on the plane. 1

Arms 27 rigidly ailixed to the cross bar 23 pending cables 10. Thesereleasing cables 28 also extend over pulleys in the ends of the beams 3,but completely across the structure in the manner shown in Figures 1 and2.

a The object is to exert a pulluponthe cable 28 of equal .force on itseither end, and simultaneously, in order that the bars 23 will berotated simultaneously by the arms 27, 'to

cause the .hooks 26 to withdraw from the rings 22 carried by the cables21 at the same time, which ac gn will obviously release both points ofsec'urement of the plane simul- 'taneously when the latter attains therequired speed and is'asafe level above the ground. To accomplish theabove action, a

, push'rod 30 is provided centrally of the" tower, provided with abifurcated head 31, as seen in Figure 2 especially, which, when urgedupwardly, engages and pushes upward on the cable 28, consequentlycausing the ends to recede, imparting a pull upon the arms'27. i

A simple form of compound lever 32, separately illustrated in Figure 5is considered to be sufficient to exemplify the prin oiple'involved. Thepush rod 30 is shown in this figure as being pivotedat a to the lever32, while the lever is centrally pivoted at b to a base 33, in orderthat a downward thrust I upon the free end of the lever will urge thepush rod upward to bring the head 31 into contact with the cable 28 toefiect release of the plane suspended upon the cable 10 as aforesaid.

It is understood .that the apparatus embodyingthe invention maybe usedon vessels and on landing fieldswith equally successful results, andmoreover, if it is desired ornecessary that-the planes be given -'agreater radius ,in which to gain cruising speed, the cables 10 may bejust as effectively wound upon suitable drums in order that they may beextended to swing the planes outward from the tower 1, gradually payingout the cables as the planes gather In operation, the cross'bars 23 areconnected by hooks 26 to rings22 carried by the ends of cables 21. Themotors of the planes 2 are started; at the same time starting the motor13 in the tower. The planes are started moving as the motor 13beginsrotating the central shaft '15 to-beginhnoving the beams 3. Thebeams 'arecarried around at the same speed as that of the planes untilthe latter have gained'suflicient speed as to carry the beams alone. Themotor 13 may then be stopped, as the planes gather speed, each moving atthe me rate of speed.

Itis required of t e pilot -to set his controls to accord with thecircular line of travel to which the plane is held by the cables 10, andeachplane is operated accordingly. Havingattainedsuificient speed forsafe release, a signal from the pilot will instruct the attendant on theground to actuate the lever 32 to effect release of the planessimultaneously, provided two are be ing sent up, allowing them .toresume a straight course.

What is claimed is:

An air-plane take-ofl apparatus including a tower; a revolving membermounted atop said tower. and having means for joining cables thereto;means carried by the opposite ends of said cables to effect their con,-nection withthe body of an air-plane, whereby the latter Willbeconstrained in ascending to encircle said tower to gain cruisingspeed, means to allow said plane to assume natural flying angles when soconstrained,

and ground means for effecting release of has been attained.

In testimony-whereof I aflix WILLIA E. GALE.

my signature. v

